Our People
Grant Gibbs
Chief Executive Officer
Grant Gibbs commenced working with Civiltest in 1994 as a Laboratory Technician. He progressed quickly through several roles in the company, gaining knowledge and expertise along the way. After six years as Managing Director, Grant was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2018.
Grant’s years of experience in laboratory, field and managerial positions ensures he has a deep understanding of Civiltest’s capabilities and service offering and an extensive knowledge in geotechnical services.
With experience in a variety of roles across the company - Laboratory Technician, Senior Technician, Laboratory Manager, Operations Manager, Managing Director and now CEO – Grant is well equipped to clearly articulate to clients the value that Civiltest adds to every project.
Grant has an ongoing commitment to remaining ‘hands-on’ and maintains a strong connection with our valued clients, liaising closely between our team and clients on all projects.
Jinke Yu
Director
Jinke joined Civiltest in 2013 as a Geotechnical Engineer, his first professional role after completing a Bachelor Degree in Environment (Civil Systems) at University of Melbourne. After three years with Civiltest, he returned to university to complete a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering with Civiltest’s support, while working part-time.
In 2018, Jinke he was invited to join the Board of Directors and became the company’s youngest Director at just 29 years of age.
His skills in problem-solving, strategic thinking and long-term planning are of immense value to our team and clients. He has a keen interest in continuous improvement for the company and particular expertise in slope stability analysis, foundation engineering and soil mechanics.
Jinke was instrumental in developing a soil logging app in partnership with junior engineers. The app has improved the overall efficiency of our team to collate field data and provide real time information to our engineers.
Phil Morgans
Director
Phil Morgans also joined Civiltest as a Laboratory Technician. Since 1996 he has spent significant time on continuous improvement of our laboratory work and capabilities.
Phil held critical roles as Senior Technician, Laboratory Manager and Manager of our Mitcham branch before taking on the role of Director.
From the very first meeting, Phil works to achieve a comprehensive understanding of a client’s requirements before matching Civiltest services to their exact needs.
Utilising his vast experience in both field and laboratory testing, Phil works hand-in-hand with clients, offering advice and guidance and developing clear and achievable outcomes for every project.
Mitchell Ratten
Director
Mitchell joined Civiltest as a Geotechnical Field Technician and driller in 2012, embarking on a career change after many years in the Australian Army as a Combat Engineer. His previous experience in a defence force role was invaluable to Civiltest; leading teams, working under challenging conditions and operation of complex and technical equipment.
After six years gaining field experience and pursuing further study, with a Bachelor in Business (Management) at Swinburne University and a Certificate 4 in Occupational Health and Safety, Mitchell transitioned to the role of Operations Manager for our Mornington office in 2018 before his appointment as Director in 2019.
Mitchell is dedicated to continual operational excellence for our various departments, assisting teams with problem solving, achieving their goals and maintaining a strong client focus.
He has a strong commitment to adding value through his role and driving business development and growth.
Jim Perry
General Manager
Jim has been working with Civiltest for more than 19 years and has progressed through various roles in the company, from Field Technician undertaking site classification investigations, to Operations Manager and now General Manager.
Jim also holds mechanical qualifications and oversees areas such as maintenance, equipment development and OH&S procedural compliance.
He has developed a strong grounding in Civiltest’s geotechnical engineering services and the demands of geotechnical work. Jim has a thorough understanding of the way Civiltest relates to the industry we serve.
Jim has a sound understanding of client requirements. He tailors our services to best meet client needs and is in constant liaison with our engineering team to meet demands.
Working with Civiltest
Civiltest’s friendly, efficient team is focused on meeting your needs and exceeding expectations. We take the time to build quality personal relationships with each valued customer.
Our geotechnical engineers are highly qualified and chartered and work with a broad cross-section of Australian businesses, large and small. Our industry specialisations include residential and non-residential, civil construction, mining and renewable energy and our services and facilities are state-of-the-art.
Key members of our team are involved in the selection and training of new staff, helping build our vibrant and inclusive culture. Civiltest offers a flexible and supportive working environment and we are committed to personal and professional development for our growing team.
Civiltest follows a comprehensive continuous improvement program. We closely monitor testing methods and standards to meet changing trends and regularly update our services and facilities to offer the latest technology.
Our personal approach and focus on quality service and outcomes has never changed.
History
Our origins stretch back to 1975, when the Shire of Flinders Materials Testing Laboratory was established. The laboratory was then operated by Mr. Steven Buffinton, a director and founder of Civiltest.
In 1987, Civiltest was formed as a separate entity and has since experienced massive growth and success. Our company has expanded from a small team in 1987 to more than 70 people today and continues to grow.
Today Civiltest is governed by a Board of Directors, all of whom are active within the business and set direction and business goals for a highly experienced, hand-picked team of managers.
Throughout our company’s history, one thing has never changed – our personal approach and commitment to quality customer service.
Contact Civiltest today to discuss your requirements